Five Albums You Should Be Listening to Right Now
Every two weeks, titans of the mediasphere give Hooksexup their music recommendations. This week: Elliot Aronow, co-founder and creative director of RCRD LBL.
1. The Lounge Lizards, The Lounge Lizards
I'll be the first to admit I don't know much about jazz, and that's probably why I enjoy the no-wave jazz/not-jazz of early-period Lounge Lizards so much. It's disrespectful to the genre in all the right ways. Saxophonist John Lurie (of Stranger Than Paradise and Fishing with John fame) is backed by a who's who of downtown legends like Arto Lindsay (DNA) and Anton Fier (the Feelies) and man do they go in. Skronk, soul, confusion, chaos, and bliss, all rolled together.
Listen: "Do The Wrong Thing"
MP3
2. Triston Palma, Riddimentary: Diplo Selects Greensleeves
If you are the kind of cat who regularly checks the label of your favorite releases, you already know that Greensleeves is major in the world of reggae and dancehall. Here, your favorite beat-miner, Diplo, pulls deep and classic cuts from the likes of Hugh Mundell, Gregory Isaacs, Barrington Levy, and more, to create a smoked-out fifty-minute mixtape treat. Top ranking indeed.
Listen: "Joker Smoker"
MP3
3. Mr. Dream, Trash Hit
To be frank, I'm sick of listening to bands made up of five ugly dudes who dress badly and play music that begs to be liked. Especially when the songs are not even catchy. You got me. I don't really like indie rock. I do, however, love underground rock music that is abrasive, dangerous and beautifully recorded. Brooklyn upstarts Mr. Dream's debut LP is a study in minimal heroics. It's bold, bad, and here to mess you up.
Listen: "Trash Hit"
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4. Holy Ghost!, Holy Ghost!
I ride hard for this NYC crew and could not be happier with the strides they've made since their debut single, "Hold On," smashed up the clubs a few years ago. Time has been kind to these young dancefloor-focused upstarts. Here, on their New Order-reference-worthy debut for DFA, they've sharpened their hooks, trimmed their tunes, and written and performed one motherfucker of a quality album. This one's percussive, poppy, well groomed, and ready to make your Mondays a lot less blue.
Listen: "Do It Again"
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5. The VSS, 21:51
It would be unfaithful of me not to big up some of the '90s hardcore that made me into the music-business sellout I am today, and so I present to you the VSS. Back in the mid '90s, having keyboards in your band was the equivalent of Dylan going electric. The kids freaked out, insults and fists were thrown, but history would later confirm that bringing in keys was a genius move. This is frantic, clawing, explosive music, and I love it. It's like a DIY Public Image, Ltd.
MP3
Listen: "Crawling In Place"
Commentarium (26 Comments)
I'm just waiting for someone to mention Adele's new album, 21. Go check it out- it's mind-blowing!
Adele came to my radio station a few weeks ago and did a performance and took questions...She is a blast! What an incredible voice. As far as the above acts, wow, another hipster douchebag list of unlistenable music.
Agreed. Adele's 21 blows all these albums away. Her 19 is worth a listen too.
Oh, and I had so hoped Heidi was being sarcastic.
"I'm sick of listening to bands made up of five ugly dudes who dress badly and play music that begs to be liked." This.
Stop telling me what music to like.
And we're done.
The "My tastes are superior so you need to like what I like" crap is getting ancient.
Stop reading the article then? THERE PROBLEM SOLVED LOL
Only pretty people make good music.
only dudes make good music
i <3 you for that
great list, good tunes!
Eh.
They all SUCKED!!! CRAP
The new Cake album is better than any of this 'desperate to be different and some how exactally the same' stuff
While I agree that this list is all very ehh, I find it ironic that you would call out music for being all the same in the same sentence that you mention Cake. Every Cake song is the same song over and over and over. It's a catchy song mind you, but still very repetitive.
Hahah. I used to complain that all the Cake lead "singer" did was talk over.narrate the music(at least from the singles I heard. Never bought their stuff). I just picked up the new album and... now I wish he would just stick to talking, hahah.
That said, I really, really like about 9/10ths of their new album.
new cake is pretty good
I had no idea anyone in 2011 still sounded that pretentious. "I don't like indie rock", way to take a stand.
what?! listen to adele and cake? not sure why you'r on this page then. you suck.
My opinion, which is meaningless yet accurate and hilarious, is that Lounge Lizards sounds a lot like the result of Kenny G and Morphine sexing out a baby together. But...not all together terrible, unlike some of the other "music" on display here.
Anyone know when the new Yanni is coming out? Ever since the song Rainmaker (an obvious allusion to the sexual fetish), I have just been absolutely hooked...
MR DREAM!!!!!!
In every "5 Albums.." article you can always count on the pretentious commenter(s) who will point out how pretentious the list is. You can always count on the "All music that isn't my music sucks" comment(s), and you can always count on the person who will make a comment that is clearly more witty and intelligent than anything I could understand. Today was no exception.
Indeed.
You can always count on the commenters who are still surprised/enraged by the way the internet works, too.
I'm glad the Pixies made the list, though!
Now you say something